7

G.—lla

incurred on the contest in Court through which they obtained this block (No. 2) of 450 acres, and also another block (No. 2), since made by Mr. Brabant's Court an inalienable reserve of 800 acres. The whole cost of the litigation and the maintenance of the hapu in Tauranga while the Court was sitting was defrayed by a single Native named Eopata Karawe, who also conducted through the Court the case for his hapu. The only method by which the hapu could recoup him his expenses is by the sale of this land. I therefore recommend that your Excellency be advised to consent to the removal of restrictions on the sale of Waimanu No. 2 Block, provided the payment for the shares of the vendors are fully and properly vouched by some Government officer named for the purpose. If the conduct of the agents in the transactions recorded in this report admits of any extenuation it is in the fact credibly vouched to me that in land transactions with the Natives such conduct is not the exception but the rule. George E. Barton, Commissioner. [Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, nil ; printing (1,400 copies), £i 10s. 6d.]

Authority: Gbobok Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB6.